South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a significant relaxation of visa regulations for Nigerian citizens, allowing tourists to apply for a visa without the need to submit their passports. Ramaphosa made the announcement on Tuesday during the opening of the 11th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Cape Town, an event attended by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.

The change, aimed at facilitating easier travel for Nigerian tourists and businesspeople, includes provisions such as the introduction of five-year multiple-entry visas for eligible Nigerian business owners. Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s spokesperson, shared the details of the announcement in a statement.

Ramaphosa highlighted that the simplified visa process is part of broader efforts to enhance economic cooperation and ease travel between the two countries. "We are committed to creating a favorable environment for business people and tourists from Nigeria to visit South Africa,” he said. “This includes offering multiple-entry visas for qualifying Nigerian business people, valid for up to five years."

The South African president also emphasized the need for removing barriers to greater investment and addressing challenges faced by businesses in both nations. Reflecting on the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Africa and Nigeria, Ramaphosa expressed optimism about the future of the partnership. “Our strong friendship lays a solid foundation for deeper economic collaboration,” he said.

He also noted that Nigeria hosts many South African companies, and South Africa remains open to Nigerian business, as demonstrated by the investments and operations established in the country. However, he acknowledged that more work remains to be done to address existing obstacles and improve the business environment further.

Ramaphosa commended the Nigerian government’s reforms aimed at strengthening the business climate, ensuring investor confidence, including for South African businesses. "We are continuously working to improve the ease of doing business in South Africa, creating opportunities for investors across various sectors," he stated.

Looking ahead, Ramaphosa emphasized that Africa’s development and the concerns of Global South countries will be a focal point at the upcoming G20 summit. “This will be the first time the G20 Leaders’ Summit is hosted on African soil. We aim to garner support for the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and champion an inclusive global agenda,” he said. "In shaping global discourse, we must ensure that no one is left behind."